On a morning when the sky was bright and a refreshing breeze blew gently, hundreds of people had already gathered in front of the grand building of the Hunter Association. Excitement and anxiety blended together as they awaited the exam.
The towering building was covered with holographic screens displaying Hunter rankings, information about the Dimensional Rift, and the latest news about hunting activities.
Among the many participants, Evan stood calmly, gazing up at the building that would serve as the gateway to his new life. Beside him, Myra, a cheerful girl with short hair, patted his shoulder enthusiastically.
"Evan! Are you really going to take this exam?" she asked with sparkling eyes.
"I know you've trained hard, but are you really sure you can pass it?"
Evan nodded with a confident smile.
"All I need is a certification to hunt in a Rank F Rift. I don't need to be the strongest. As long as I can earn enough for my little sister, Lilia, that's more than enough."
Myra crossed her arms and sighed.
"Alright, I'll support you! Besides, I'm taking the exam too. I won't let you go through this alone!"
Around them, other participants were also chatting among themselves.
On the other side of the field, a man in a black cloak with a long sword on his back stood with his hands in his pockets. Rafael, a Rank E Hunter aiming to rise to Rank D, glanced at Evan briefly and smirked.
"Hah, even kids like that are taking the exam?" he muttered, making his friend, Derrick, chuckle.
"Well, just ignore him. Fewer competitors for us," Derrick replied.
Basic Ability Measurement Test
After a lengthy registration process, the participants were directed to a large room where the basic ability assessment was conducted. At the center of the room stood a large crystal device emitting a soft blue light.
"Step forward one by one and place your hands on the crystal," instructed an examiner in a white uniform.
The first participant, a muscular man with red hair, placed his hand on the crystal. Instantly, a bright blue light shone, and a holographic screen displayed the result.
[Rank D – Mana Potential: High]
Gasps of admiration filled the room.
"Wow, he'll definitely be accepted as a Rank D Hunter right away!"
"No surprise, I've seen him training at a famous dojo before."
One by one, the participants took their turns, with some receiving Rank E results while others were classified as Rank F.
When Evan's turn arrived, the room fell silent. He placed his hand on the crystal, and a faint light spread slowly. After a few seconds, the holographic screen displayed his result.
[Rank F – Mana Potential: Minimal]
Whispers immediately filled the room.
"Hah, Rank F? Seriously? He's just here to get permission to hunt in the weakest Rift?" one participant sneered.
"I've never even heard of him. No wonder."
Myra clenched her fists, ready to speak up, but Evan simply smiled and patted her shoulder.
"It's fine, Myra. I only need this certification. I don't care about ranks or their opinions."
In the corner of the room, a silver-haired girl wearing a white robe observed Evan with keen interest. Selena, a Rank C Hunter assigned as an exam supervisor, narrowed her eyes.
"Low mana potential... But why do I feel like there's something different about him?" she murmured.
Physical Exam: Battle Against Golems
After the mana measurement, the participants were led to the physical test arena. Each of them had to fight a training golem adjusted to their power level.
When Evan's turn arrived, a bronze-colored golem with low difficulty emerged.
Evan took a deep breath and activated the Limitless Blade System. A faint light enveloped his hand, forming a transparent sword visible only to him.
The golem immediately attacked with its massive fists, but with his newfound agility, Evan dodged the first strike and countered with a quick slash. His attacks didn't destroy the golem instantly, but each strike targeted weak points, gradually weakening it.
The spectators fell silent, watching how someone with Rank F fought so efficiently. In a short time, the golem collapsed, unable to move.
Among the participants, Rafael narrowed his eyes.
"Hmm... His technique is decent. But without strong mana, this is as far as he'll go."
Selena, who had been observing Evan, smiled slightly.
"Interesting... A person with no mana potential but capable of fighting this efficiently?"
Participant Battles
The final stage was a battle between participants. Evan was matched against a Rank E fighter, a muscular man named Ryugo.
"I can't believe I have to fight someone like this... Hurry up, I don't want to waste my time," Ryugo said dismissively.
However, as soon as the battle started, Evan quickly demonstrated his ability to read his opponent's movements. Ryugo, who had initially been confident, began struggling against Evan's swift and precise attacks.
"Damn it! He's too fast...!" Ryugo growled, attempting to land a heavy punch.
Evan calmly dodged every attack, countering with light but accurate slashes to weak points. After a few minutes, Ryugo finally collapsed, panting heavily.
"Damn... How is this possible...?"
The examiner announced the results.
"Evan Castrelle, declared as a certified Hunter, Rank F. Despite having minimal mana potential, his combat technique is sufficient to survive in Rank F Rifts."
Evan sighed in relief. He didn't care about the cheers or the scorn from others. The only thing that mattered was that he was now officially a Hunter.
Myra jumped in excitement.
"You did it, Evan! I knew you could!"
Among the spectators, Selena smiled slightly.
"This kid... will be very interesting in the future."
Rafael, who had previously looked down on Evan, exhaled and smirked.
"Well, at least he's more interesting than I thought. Let's see how far he can go."
With this certification, Evan could now hunt in Dimensional Rifts and earn enough to support his sister.
A comfortable life with Lilia was no longer an unattainable dream.
This was just the beginning of his long journey, and he was ready to face whatever lay ahead.